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Budgeting Tips for Pet Owners

November 1, 2017

What pet owner wouldn’t like to save a little money here and there? Of course, you want to do that without putting your pet’s health or happiness at risk in any way. Fortunately, there are some ways to do just that! Learn more here from a vet in Happy Valley, OR.

Practice Preventative Care

Preventative medicine isn’t just more effective than treatment. It’s cheaper! The costs of monthly pest preventatives are far less than the cost of eradicating an infestation or infection, and vaccinations and booster shots are much more cost-effective than treating a dangerous disease. Talk to your veterinarian right away if your pet needs updated vaccinations or pest-control medicines.

Use Portion Control

When you feed your pet, be sure to do so in measured portions rather than just dumping an arbitrary amount of food into the bowl. If you overfeed your pet, you’re wasting money—not only are you using more food more quickly, you’re contributing to potential obesity, which can be costly and troublesome to correct down the road. To find out about the proper portion size for your animal friend, consult your veterinarian.

Spay and Neuter

One of the earliest things you can do to benefit your pet’s health—and save yourself money in the process—is to have your pet spayed or neutered. For one, spaying and neutering prevents unplanned litters and the costs associated with them. Secondly, you’re negating the chance of genital cancers affecting your pet, and even prostate, breast, and other cancer types are less likely to occur. These health problems will be expensive and heartbreaking to deal with later, so avoid them initially!

Ignore the Extras

There sure are a lot of products out there for our pets, many of them not entirely necessary. It can be tempting to indulge, but limit yourself to only the very occasional gift. Remember: your pet doesn’t know or care whether or not they’re sporting a name-brand parka or wearing a fashionable perfume. Extras like these only put an unneeded strain on your wallet!

Adopt Don’t Shop!

Here’s a tip to save money on your pet before you even own them: adopt from a rescue facility or an animal shelter. It’s almost always far less expensive than buying from a breeder or a pet shop! Plus, you’re saving a life in need.